Michelle McGee has gone public with claims she romanced TV action man Jesse James while Bullock was on location shooting The Blind Side, prompting the actress to walk out on her husband.
And now McGee's ex, Shane Modica, has spoken out for the first time about his former wife's attraction to all things Jesse James.
He tells U.S. TV news show The Insider, "We had problems during our marriage because of (her obsession).
"Our picture is sitting there taped on her mirror, and I looked at it and kind of double-taked (looked again) and noticed there was something over my face and I looked closer, and it’s a picture of Jesse James, his head cut out (and) pasted over my face.
"I was like, 'Really, are you serious?' And she laughed it off thinking it was funny and said, 'It’s not a big deal, (I) was just doing it as a joke - he’s fat, he’s ugly, he doesn’t have any real tattoos, he’s old, and all that stuff."
But Modica admits he wasn't surprised when his ex told him that she and James were quietly dating last year (09), claiming McGee often referred to James' marriage to Bullock as a "sham".
He adds, "According to her, (Sandra and Jesse) had this big thing going on where they were going to announce their divorce on a certain timeline and she was going to be the next woman... She was going to make money off this one way or another."
Since the scandal broke last week (ends19Mar10), Modica, who runs a tattoo parlour in San Diego, California, has filed legal papers seeking temporary and legal custody of his five-year-old son Avery with McGee.
Modica filed his latest motion in San Diego, California on Friday (19Mar10) as a direct result of the tabloid scandal.
In his legal papers, Modica said, "I need protection for my son. If she sees Avery, she will bring these curiosity seekers and glory hounds down on herself and Avery, totally confusing and frankly scaring him."

Tattooed model Michelle McGee went public with her alleged affair with Bullock's husband Jesse James this past week (ends19Mar10), prompting the Oscar winner to walk out of the couple's California home and cancel a promotional trip to Europe.
And now McGee's ex, Ronald Shane Modica, is seeking temporary and legal custody of their five-year-old son Avery.
Modica filed his latest motion in San Diego, California on Friday (19Mar10) as a direct result of the tabloid scandal.
In his legal papers, Modica says, "I need protection for my son. If she sees Avery, she will bring these curiosity seekers and glory hounds down on herself and Avery, totally confusing and frankly scaring him."
The father insists that his son doesn't want to be with his mother and makes a fuss when visitation with his father ends: "He fights me violently, and screams, yells, cries and begs not to go."
He also fears that his ex may flee to Australia and take Avery with her.
A judge has denied Modica's request, but the concerned father plans to keep on fighting, suggesting that his ex-wife's porn career is a threat to their young son.
In the legal documents, he claims "pornographic shoots" have been filmed at the home McGee shares with Avery and "live WEB cam pornographic broadcasts".
He states, "I will not continue to expose him to the kind of life Michelle desires and seeks: full on, pornographic, party all the time."
According to earlier court documents, obtained by Us Weekly magazine, McGee has disputed Modica's claims, insisting she spends quality time with her son, and supports herself through "artistic nudes". She's adamant she does not expose Avery to the racy material.
In the previous court papers, the model acknowledges she is bipolar and on medication prescribed to treat the disorder.
The couple will meet in court on 12 May (10) to revise the terms of custody and visitation.

Who would have thought there’d be so much secret buried treasures in this fine country of ours? Thank goodness we have treasure hunter Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) on the case. It’s been a few years since he and his crew discovered the Knights Templar treasure beneath the streets of New York but it looks like a new treasure hunt is afoot. It all starts when a missing page from the diary of John Wilkes Booth surfaces accusing Ben’s great-great-grandfather as a key conspirator in Abraham Lincoln’s death. In order to clear his family’s name Ben must rummage through the Queen’s desk at Buckingham Palace kidnap the President of the United States and get his hands on the fabled Book of Secrets with all of our nation’s deep dark ones--AND get his acrimoniously divorced parents (Jon Voight and Helen Mirren) in the same room together--just so he can find one of the world’s most elusive treasures: the ancient Native American “City of Gold.” Hunting along with him once again is his trusted--now broke--friend Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) and estranged girlfriend Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger) who honestly were just waiting for another cool adventure to pop up so they could take a break from their ordinary lives. It’s always better in a Nic Cage actioner when he doesn’t ham it up. Ben Gates is a perfect alter ego for the actor--whip-smart a little nerdy but adorably inquisitive and relentless in his pursuit of ancient artifacts or to clear his family's name or whatever the case may be. I guess you could call him a modern-day Indiana Jones minus the fedora and whip. Voight too doesn’t have to overplay it as Ben’s dad Patrick and can feel proud to have his name attached to the movie (unlike say Bratz or Anaconda). As for the lovely Mirren you half-expect her to show up at Queen Elizabeth II when Ben is in Buckingham Palace but alas the Oscar winner just gets to sit back and have fun as Ben’s mom a professor of Native American culture (yes she comes in handy). Kruger’s Abigail is still blonde spunky and protecting historical documents. But it’s Bartha as electronics expert Riley who steals nearly every scene he is in with one snarky line after another. My personal favorite: “So let's recap: We've broken into Buckingham Palace and the Oval Office stolen a page from the President's super-secret book and actually kidnapped the President of the United States. What are we gonna do next short-sheet the Pope's bed?” Good thing director Jon Turteltaub stumbled upon this goldmine franchise or he might be stuck making sequels to Disney’s The Kid. Much like the Indiana Jones series what makes the National Treasure movies fun are their sense of adventure the code-breaking--and the American history slant. They speak not only to the treasure hunters who crave excitement but also to the History Channel buffs. It’s a combination that works. Of course Book of Secrets is just as wildly far-fetched as the original National Treasure but Turteltaub keeps things moving at a good clip so you don’t mind suspending disbelief. Actually you might want to jot down some notes--you know just in case there might be a sliver of truth. Then again that might be something the filmmakers don't want you to do. With the climactic ending at a famous American landmark (won't give it away) they keep it pretty vague exactly where Ben and the gang are looking for the treasure. I'm sure the peeps wouldn't appreciate amateur treasure seekers flocking to the landmark to look for the City of Gold. Oh and if Book of Secrets makes the piles of cash it should look for a third installment hinted at at the end of this one.

Just as the Russian Mafia tells stories through tattoos it could be said that Eastern Promises is told through bloodshed. The splatter begins almost immediately in the tone-setting opening shot but it’s the ensuing scene that properly introduces the story. A 14-year-old girl named Tatiana (Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse) is shown staggering in a London pharmacy blood hemorrhaging down to her bare feet. She is in labor as we soon learn and only her baby will survive the birth. But the midwife Anna (Naomi Watts) handling Tatiana’s case is determined not to let the young girl’s story die then and there especially after finding her diary. Written entirely in Russian the diary contains many secrets all of which are clearly not meant to be meddled with by anyone who values her life. Anna knows this and yet she proceeds to have her Russian uncle (Jerzy Skolimowski) translate the diary. It directs her to the notorious Russian Mob syndicate Vory V Zakone led by its aging boss (Armin Mueller-Stahl) his heir-to-the-throne son (Vincent Cassel) and their driver/“undertaker” (Viggo Mortensen). And by the time Anna reaches the end of her vigilante investigation into the Zakone Tatiana’s death isn’t the only mystery solved. Viggo Mortensen has a serious complexity complex—which is to say the uncomplicated-character role is of zero interest to him. Never before has Mortensen portrayed a more complex character than Promises’ Nikolai nor has the actor ever performed at such a high level. In fact so multilayered is Nikolai that Mortensen’s spot-on Russian accent will be taken for granted and rightfully so. Because by the end of the movie Nikolai will have been exposed and transformed the most and Mortensen is game each step of the way—whether it entails cold-bloodedness sensitivity vulnerability or full-frontal nudity (while dodging knives no less). Mortensen also shares this movie’s version of chemistry with Watts whose Anna finds herself simultaneously intrigued and repulsed by Nikolai. As Anna Watts turns in one of her more restrained performances to date leaving the spotlight vacant for Mortensen’s showier effort to shine. In contrast Cassel (Derailed) doesn’t have a restrained bone in his body in Promises and it works. One of the most versatile supporting actors of today Cassel plays Kirill over the top conveying a hotheaded spoiled and ultimately inept prince of the Zakone brotherhood. David Cronenberg is every bit as important a filmmaker as the other “legends” of his generation but because he has never directed a blockbuster per se he remains every bit as unknown as another fellow genius named David--Lynch that is. However his recent work while still uncompromising has been more genre-classifiable and thus reached larger audiences. His latest is a straightaway crime mystery but there is never anything conventional in how he fleshes—or ahem de-fleshes—out a movie. In a story crafted like a novel by writer Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things) Cronenberg once again highlights the secrets lurking among us as only he can. The result gets underneath our skin and stays put but this time it’s not all about the shocking images. While there is blood aplenty—primarily it seems at each of the plot points—as well as the much-buzzed-about Viggo Mortensen nude fight scene Cronenberg puts his stamp on the storytelling maybe more than ever. Most other directors would let the sun in occasionally on a tale that is perpetually pitch black to begin with but Cronenberg works best in the dark and doesn’t pretend to cater to seekers of the light (or the lite)—he hasn’t for 40-plus years. And if not for his masterful pacing in the final act the script might’ve been guilty of trigger-happiness with regards to the plot twists.

Pitt eggs paparazzi on
Hollywood heart-throb Brad Pitt reportedly snapped at a group of paparazzi encamped outside his Beverley Hills home in Los Angeles--and bombarded them with eggs. Six carloads of photographers managed to spark rage in the Troy actor, who's currently the center of attention following his split with wife Jennifer Aniston last week after four years of marriage. The infuriated actor was so appalled at the sight of the intrusive photographers, he began launching eggs at them--catching one paparazzo on the side of the face, reports the BBC.
Fawcett and O'Neal will marry on TV
Reconciled superstar couple Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O'Neal will marry on a reality television show. The pair ended their 17-year relationship in 1997--but have been dating for the past year. And they now want to marry for the first time, with footage of the ceremony appearing on Fawcett's new show Chasing Farrah, which airs Jan. 19, according to the New York Daily News. It's been claimed the pair--who have a 21-year-old son--reconciled over O'Neal's battle with leukemia. O'Neal has previously been married twice. Fawcett has also walked down the aisle once before.
Kidman: 'I wish I loved women'
Nicole Kidman often wishes she were a lesbian, because she's convinced life would be more simple if she found women attractive. However, the Oscar-winning actress--who divorced Tom Cruise in 2001--concedes she is "hooked" on men. Kidman says, "It would be far easier to go, 'Oh, I wish I loved women!' But I don't. I mean, I love them, but physically, they just don't do it for me. I love the way a man thinks. I love the way a man smells. I love the way men look... I'm hooked on the male physique - hooked on it!"
Stamos' brief new love
Actor John Stamos has found new love following his split from wife Rebecca Romijn-Stamos--but friends don't expect it to last. A year after the couple separated, Stamos has begun dating socialite Charlotte Freund. But pals insist Stamos shouldn't get excited about any longterm relationship--because the "It girl" still hasn't got over former beau Todd Meister, who himself recently split from wife Nicky Hilton. A source tells Pagesix.com, "Charlotte is moving to Paris. She is only 20. Todd broke her heart and she has never gotten over him." Last month, Stamos complained he would "be really happy to be in love again" but has struggled to move on following his split from Romijn-Stamos, because he is "not good" at dating.
Troyer accepts he was married
Austin Powers star Verne Troyer is set to officially recognize his 30-day marriage to leggy yoga teacher Genevieve Gallen--in order to get her out of his life. Gallen sued the tiny actor last year after he denied he was legally wed to her. The two have been locked in a bitter dispute, while Gallen allegedly hoped for a reconciliation. But now legal show Celebrity Justice has learned the two are close to reaching a settlement, which would entail a divorce. Sources claim Troyer will now acknowledge he and Gallen were married and agree to a divorce.
Carradine weds for a fifth time
Kill Bill star David Carradine is hoping five is his lucky number after he welcomed in the New Year by marrying for the fifth time. The 68-year-old movie star exchanged vows with mother-of-four Annie Berman in a low-key beach ceremony late last month. Carradine's lawyer Vicki Roberts, who served as a Justice of the Peace to authenticate the vows, says, "I asked each of Annie's four kids if they'd take David to be their new daddy and protector and they did." The Carradines first public outing will come this Sunday when they attend the Golden Globe Awards, where Carradine is nominated for a best supporting actor prize.
Johansson's tonsil fears
Scarlett Johansson fears her tonsils are set to be sold on internet auction site eBay--because nurses wouldn't let her see them once they'd been removed. The actress thought she'd be able to take her tonsils home with her after undergoing a hellish operation late last year, but wasn't even allowed to look at them. She says, "I didn't realize how huge they were--they were over an inch in length and almost an inch in width. They were huge and they don't let you see them afterwards, which I was thought was lame. I've been with the bastards for 20 years and I expected to see what they look like. (The nurse) looked very strange when she told me I couldn't have them and I'm afraid they're on eBay right now."
Happy Days stars reunite
The cast members of classic comedy Happy Days are reuniting for a 30th anniversary TV reunion. Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Scott Baio, Erin Moran, Don Most and Anson Williams will gather for ABC's Happy Days 30th Anniversary Reunion, which will air in the U.S. on Feb. 3. The special will feature bloopers and recollections--as well as an unseen clip of Fonzie, played by Winkler, kissing Ross' Mrs. Cunningham.
Trump to launch Apprentice-inspired Caribbean cruise
Property tycoon Donald Trump is using the success of his reality TV show The Apprentice to lure sun seekers onto his Caribbean cruise. The boat trip, which will begin in New York City on Sept. 26 after a send-off party hosted by Trump, will last for eight days and feature past contestants from the show. The vessel will be the Carnival cruise line's 1,062-cabin The Legend, which will be renamed the Trump World Legend for the week. Onboard, passengers will be able to take part in team-based tasks similar to those carried out by contenders on The Apprentice. There will also be a golf tournament on the island of St Thomas. One lucky winner will win a prize to spend a day as boss of the travel website Expedia.com, which is the commercial sponsor of the voyage. The CEO-for-a-day will receive a $15,000 paycheck, first-class airfare to New York and ground transportation by limo, plus a stay in a five-star hotel. Fares start at $1,199 per person.
Articles Copyright World Entertainment News Network All Rights Reserved.

Top Story: Jackson Skates Charges in L.A.
Pop star Michael Jackson will not be charged with molesting a Los Angeles boy in the 1980s because, after a two-month investigation, the police found no evidence of a crime, Reuters reports. The boy, now 18, allegedly recovered repressed memories of being abused by Jackson 10 years ago with the help of Beverly Hills psychiatrist Carole Lieberman. Lieberman filed a child abuse complaint against Jackson, 45, last year. "After an extensive investigation, which included hours of interviews with the person making the allegations, detectives concluded there was no evidence that any crime occurred," Los Angeles Police Lt. Art Miller said in a brief written statement. "No charges will be sought." The boy's name is being withheld, but it is known that this case is unrelated to the 10-count indictment Jackson currently faces in Santa Barbara. The singer is set to stand trial in September on charges of lewd acts on a minor as well as child abduction, extortion and false imprisonment.
Simpson Wants Payment for T-Shirt
In the video to her hit single "With You, " Jessica Simpson indeed looked "beautiful" with just a T-shirt on--but now she wants to get paid for wearing it. Reuters reports the pop singer has filed a $140,000 lawsuit against the auto racing company Motorock and 4 Dog Productions, claiming they reneged on a deal to pay her for promoting the Motorock logo on a T-shirt. The complaint, originally filed in federal court in April, also claims that Simpson agreed to sing at the Grand Prix auto race in Puerto Rico last October, but that 4 Dog Productions "unilaterally canceled" plans for her performance without the consent of Simpson or her agency.
Quaid To Get Hitched Again
Actor Dennis Quaid is engaged to marry Texas real estate agent Kimberley Buffington, his publicist told Reuters. The syndicated TV show Extra said the two met just over a year ago when the 50-year-old actor was playing with his band The Sharks in Austin, Texas. This is the third marriage for Quaid, including his much-publicized one to actress Meg Ryan. No date has been set for the wedding.
Family Ties Actor Arrested for DUI
Actor Brian Bonsall, best known as Andy Keaton on the '80s sitcom Family Ties, was arrested last Friday in Boulder, Colo., on suspicion of drunken driving, CNN.com reports. Bonsall, 22, was stopped by police who said they saw someone vomit out the passenger side window of his car. Asked how much he had to drink, the young actor responded, "Plenty," then failed a roadside test. Bonsall had a prior conviction for drunken driving; in 2001 his license was suspended, police told CNN.com.
Idol Finale Dominates Weekly Ratings
Fox conquered the prime-time ratings last week as 28.8 million viewers tuned in to see who would be crowned the new American Idol during the series finale. The Top 10 shows and their total viewership for the week of May 24-30, according to Nielsen Media Research, include: American Idol (Wednesday), Fox, 28.8 million viewers; American Idol (Tuesday), Fox, 25.1 million viewers; CSI: Miami, CBS, 21.3 million viewers; Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS, 18.3 million viewers; Two and a Half Men, CBS, 18.2 million viewers; CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 14.9 million viewers; Without a Trace, CBS, 12.5 million viewers; 24, Fox, 12.3 million viewers; Law &amp; Order, NBC, 12.2 million viewers; and Still Standing, CBS, 12.1 million viewers.
Ch-Check Out Beatsie Boys on Amazon.com
Beastie Boys fans who pre-order the band's new album, To the 5 Boroughs, on Amazon.com are in for a special treat. CNN.com reports Amazon.com music editor Jason Verlinde recently conducted a 10-minute interview with the band in which they discuss the Sept. 11 attacks, the presidential race and their passion for submarine sandwiches. But the interview is only viewable to those who have placed a pre-order for the new album, which is due out June 15. Fans who pre-order To the 5 Boroughs, the Beastie Boys' first album since 1998's Hello Nasty, will also be given access to the music video to the new single, "Ch-Check It Out," and two previously unavailable live concert performances.
Martha Stewart's Childhood Home Could Be Yours
Martha Stewart's childhood home, a three-story Colonial in Nutley, N.J., just 12 miles from New York City, is for sale. According to the AP, the three-bedroom, 1,922-square-foot house, built in 1930, is going for $549,000 and is expected to sell quickly. Stewart's parents bought the house when the homemaking maven was 3 years old, and she lived there through high school. Stewart's mother sold it to the present owners in 1987. Amenities include mature fig trees planted by Martha Stewart and a holly bush she and her father pruned in the shape of a cone. Curiosity-seekers be forewarned: There will be no open houses, and showings will be offered to pre-qualified buyers only.
Role Call: Lohan Joins Fashionistas' Ranks
Mean Girls star Lindsay Lohan is in negotiations to star in Fashionistas, a feature set in the world of a glossy magazine, Reuters reports. Lohan would play a young fashion designer who seeks revenge on her demanding female editor. When her plan backfires, she must juggle being a lowly assistant by day and the secret "It" designer and toast of New York by night--all while falling in love with the city's hottest bachelor. The project is based on Lynn Messina's debut novel of the same name.
Guylaine Cadorette contributed to this report.

Top Story: Michael Jackson Pleads Not Guilty
Michael Jackson pleaded not guilty today in a Santa Maria, Calif., court to charges of child molestation and conspiracy involving child abduction and extortion, The Associated Press reports. The grand jury indictment also alleged lewd acts and attempted lewd acts involving a child, as well as administering an intoxicating agent to a child. Jackson, wearing a black jacket with a red armband and a red tie, arrived 40 minutes early and entered the courtroom under his customary umbrella. After entering a plea of not guilty, the 45-year-old singer left the courthouse and thanked the fans around the world for their love and support "from every corner of the Earth." In brief comments afterward, Jackson's new defense attorney, Thomas Mesereau Jr., said the case should not be about lawyers or celebrity. "This case is about one thing only,' he said. "It's about the dignity, the integrity, the decency, the honor, the charity, the innocence and the complete vindication about a wonderful human being named Michael Jackson." Police Chief Danny Macagni told the AP 42 of the city's 107 police officers were assigned to the courthouse, along with about 50 sheriff's deputies, to handle the hordes of fans.
Actor Quits Film Over Animal Killing
Actor John C. Reilly walked off the Swedish set of director Lars von Trier 's Manderlay to protest the killing of a donkey for the shoot, a production spokeswoman told Reuters Thursday. The spokeswoman said they tried to use a puppet instead of a real donkey but when that didn't work they asked a veterinarian to provide us with an animal that was due to be slaughtered anyway. "Because of the film," she added, "this poor donkey lived two more months than it would have otherwise." Reilly was quickly replaced by Slovenian actor Zeljko Ivanek.
The Olsen Twins Get Their Stars
Seventeen-year-old twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen each received a star on the Walk of Fame yesterday in recognition of their contribution to television, the AP reports. The event was timed to promote their first feature film, New York Minute, in theaters May 7. They hugged and held hands while posing by the stars, located in front of the Hollywood &amp; Highland mall complex on Hollywood Boulevard. The two will also host the season finale of NBC's Saturday Night Live on May 15.
Christina Aguilera Cancels Tour
Singer Christina Aguilera has canceled her North American tour plans due to strained vocal chords, Reuters reports. Aguilera was set to kick off her 28-city tour May 13 in Seattle with rapper Chingy. "I am extremely disappointed to have to cancel this tour," the singer said in a statement. "I was looking forward to being on the road again and spending time with my fans." According to a statement, doctors advised Aguilera to rest immediately and allow her voice time to recover.
Affleck Supports Minimum Wage Increase
Ben Affleck, a former dishwasher and waiter, was on Capitol Hill Thursday to promote an increase in the federal hourly minimum wage from $5.15 to $7 as proposed by his home state senator, Edward Kennedy, D-Mass, the AP reports. "Perhaps the senator saw my movie Gigli last fall and figured I'd be working for minimum wage myself," Affleck joked, adding more seriously: "I know firsthand what a struggle it was to try to raise a family on such a small salary. Nobody is going to get rich off of making $7 an hour."
Jolie Visits Detained U.S. Asylum Seekers
Angelina Jolie, meanwhile, visited facilities in Arizona where children separated from their asylum-seeking parents are being detained by the United States. "Many of these children have survived tragedy so being separated from their families can only add to their suffering," Jolie, a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, said. According to U.N. chief spokesman Fred Eckhard, some 5,000 children are detained each year in the United States while seeking asylum.
Third Adult-Movie Performer Contracts HIV
An adult-movie actress known as Jessica Dee has become the third performer to test positive for HIV in an wave that has shut down many productions in the porn industry. According to the AP, Dee had sex with five men who were later placed on a voluntary quarantine list, after the first HIV case was announced April 12. A total of 53 people were listed for quarantine, according to Sharon Mitchell, executive director of the nonprofit Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation, which screens performers for sexually transmitted diseases. The outbreak began after a performer with the stage name Darren James apparently contracted HIV while filming unprotected sex scenes in Brazil. He returned to the United States and apparently infected Lara Roxx during film shoots, Mitchell told The New York Times.
LaPaglia, Wood, Honored at Prism Awards
Winners of the eighth annual Entertainment Industry Council's PRISM awards, which are given for the realistic depiction of alcohol, drug and tobacco use, were announced last night at the Hollywood Palladium in Calif. Anthony LaPaglia won for his performance in Happy Hour; Evan Rachel Wood was honored for her performance in Thirteen; and the Brazilian film City of God took home the prize for theatrical feature film. In television, Dennis Franz was honored for performance in NYPD Blue and Peter Krause for Six Feet Under. Honored for their contribution to the organization were: HBO for America Undercover: Crank: Made in America; MTV, for MTV News Now: Jack Osbourne: Back From Rehab; and ESPN for the May 11, 2003 episode of SportsCenter.
Role Call: Thornton Goes From Bad Santa to Bad News Bears
Billy Bob Thornton will star in the remake of Paramount Pictures' 1976 film The Bad News Bears. Thornton will portray the coach of the Little League team of misfits originally played by Walter Matthau. The project will be written by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, the scribes responsible for Thornton's recent hit, Bad Santa.

Top Story: P. Diddy Wants a Slam Dunk
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs is interested in buying the New York Knicks, Reuters reports. A devout fan of the NBA team, the hip-hop mogul announced his desire to own the team on Howard Stern's syndicated morning radio show Tuesday. "I think I could do a good job," Combs told Stern, admitting, however, that his attempts to make contact with the team's current ownership has, at this point, been less than successful. "I'm publicly puttin' it out there, because they're not taking my calls…I'm not saying let's get rid of the owners, I'm saying put me down. Put me in the game... Because it's not going down right now." Combs' comments stem from the team's poor performance over the last few years. "[The team]'s making rush decisions," he said. "I think we need a team that also reflects the spirit of the city. We need an aggressive, fast team that knows how to run." Plus, Combs added, "I wanna make sure we gonna win."
Warner Bros. Hits Billion Dollar Mark Overseas
Fueled by the successful The Matrix Reloaded, which has grossed $432 million worldwide, Warner Bros. has earned a whopping $1.012 billion in overseas box office so far this year. Reuters reports it marked the sixth time the studio has hit more than $1 billion in the offshore market and also the fastest time it has ever racked up that sum.
Jackass Star Arrested
Stephen Glover, aka Steve-O of the now defunct MTV series Jackass, was arrested Saturday for urinating in front of autograph seekers at the Lollapalooza rock festival in Pennsylvania, CNN.com reports. He was charged with disorderly conduct and faces a $300 fine. Glover was arrested in Sweden last May when he claimed to have swallowed a condom filled with marijuana. The charges were later dropped.
Ben &amp; Jen Fuel NBC's Ratings Win
NBC's Dateline interview with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez helped propel the network into the top spot in the ratings race, The Associated Press reports. NBC came in with 7.9 million viewers, followed by CBS with 7.8 million and Fox with 6.7 million. ABC came in fourth with 5.2 million.
Brown Advertises Separation
In a rather peculiar move, singer James Brown placed a full-page advertisement in Variety, announcing his separation to his third wife, Tomi Rae. Reuters reports the ad featured a photo of Brown with Rae and their two-year-old son, posing happily with Goofy at a Disney theme park.
O'Donnell Has Third Child
Batman star Chris O'Donnell and his wife have had their third child, a boy, AP reports. Charles McHugh O'Donnell was born July 11 in Los Angeles, weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces. He joins siblings Lily, 3, and Christopher Jr., 2.
Citizen Kane Oscar Pulled Off Auction
The Oscar awarded to Orson Welles for co-writing his classic film Citizen Kane was taken off the auction block Tuesday after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences optioned their right to buy the statuette back for $1, Reuters reports. Welles' daughter Beatrice Welles had put the Oscar up for sale at Christie's in New York, but according to an agreement she signed with AMPAS which allowed them right of first refusal, the Oscar had to be withdrawn. John Pavlik, spokesman for AMPAS, said talks between lawyers for the Academy and for Welles were still ongoing about whether it would buy back the Oscar in this case, Reuters reports.
Role Call: Kidman Drops Manderlay, Tamahori Helms Deathlok, Cheech and Chong Take a Hit
Due to scheduling conflicts, Nicole Kidman has officially dropped out of Lars von Trier's film Manderlay, the second movie in his U.S.A. trilogy, which began with the controversial Dogville…Die Another Day director Lee Tamahori has taken the helm for the comic book actioner Deathlok. The Hollywood Reporter describes the story, about a suburban family man who is unwittingly made a test subject for technology research that slowly turns him into a living computer, as Robocop meets The Manchurian Candidate …Those pot smokin' buddies Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong are reuniting for another film after 20 years. According to The Reporter, the details of the film are still being ironed out. The comedy duo's last film was the 1984 Cheech &amp; Chong's The Corsican Brothers.

Was there a better way for Adam Sandler to put behind him the hellish disaster that was Little Nicky than to give Frank Capra's Oscar-winning comedy Mr. Deeds Goes to Town a 21st-century makeover?
Probably not.
Critics will tear Sandler to shreds for bastardizing such a beloved classic, but audiences won't care. The majority of the former SNLers devotees doubtless know anything about Capra or his legendary body of work. All they want to see is Sandler slide down banisters, belittle shallow corporate bigwigs and rough up anyone who mortally offends him. To this end, Sandler doesn't disappoint, so expect Mr. Deeds to more than double the disappointing $39.4 million that Little Nicky could only muster.
Mr. Deeds finds Sandler's eponymous small-town nice guy whisked off to New York City after he inherits a media empire worth a measly $40 billion. While financial officers plot to wrestle control of the company, Sandler loses his heart--but none of his valuables--to Winona Ryder, an undercover TV tabloid reporter out to get the dirt on the Big Apple's newest mover and shaker.
Audiences just want Sandler to be Sandler. Little Nicky was Sandler's Cable Guy mostly on the strength of the infantile voice and creepy look that he adopted as the son of Satan.
Thus Longfellow Deeds is a classic Sandler man-child underdog. He's as much a goofball as Billy Madison, only with a better work ethic. He's just tender as The Waterboy, but he's lousy when it comes to wooing women, a la The Wedding Singer. He throws a punch harder than Happy Gilmore.
This should find Sandler in good graces with audiences who turned out in droves to see Big Daddy ($164.3 million) and The Waterboy ($161.4 million) but stayed away from Little Nicky.
Sandler's cooled off since achieving those back-to-back hits in 1998 and 1999, so Mr. Deeds won't open on the scale of Big Daddy's $41.5 million or The Waterboy's $39.4 million. Instead, Mr. Deeds should top the The Wedding Singer's $21.9 million's opening by about $5 million.
Mr. Deeds, however, will do no better than The Wedding Singer's $80.2 million for the simple reason that everyone, with the notable exception of Ryder, is funnier than the somewhat subdued Sandler. Co-stars John Turturro and Steve Buscemi steal the show. Rob Schneider's obligatory cameo also earns more snickers than Sandler provides in 90 minutes.
Also, sparks fail to fly between Sandler and Ryder, who reveals amazingly little comic aptitude in Mr. Deeds. Ryder's ongoing legal woes will lure curiosity seekers to Mr. Deeds, but her presence will disappoint those who enjoyed Sandler's efforts to romance Drew Barrymore in The Wedding Singer.
To matters worse, Mr. Deeds distributor Sony Picture will release Men in Black II next week. That long-awaited sequel will doubtless siphon away the same audience of young adults that it shares with Mr. Deeds.
Mr. Deeds should add some shine to Sandler's tarnished star appeal, but he may have to wait until he spars with Jack Nicholson in next year's Anger Management before enjoying another runaway smash.
Corporate America receives more bashing this weekend, this time courtesy of Nickelodeon Pictures. Hey Arnold! The Movie, based on the popular animated TV show, pits the young boy and his buddies against a ruthless developer out to ruin their quaint inner-city neighborhood.
Slowly, but surely, Nickelodeon Pictures is turning itself into a force to be reckoned with when it comes to animation.
The cable TV channel's movie arm has already transformed The Rugrats into a viable film franchise. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, which served as the basis of an upcoming new show, earned an Oscar nomination this year for Best Animated Picture. The Wild Thornberrys, another TV spin-off, will storm theaters Dec. 20.
A Nickelodeon staple, Hey Arnold! The Movie arrives with a built-in audience of tiny tots. But parents face too many choices this weekend when it comes to entertaining their young ones, what with Lilo &amp; Stitch and Scooby-Doo making their presence felt. This stiff competition should result in a better opening for Hey Arnold! The Movie than Jimmy Neutron's $13.8 million but less than Rugrats in Paris' $22.7 million.
Hey Arnold! The Movie might not enjoy a splashy opening, but it should amuse children throughout the summer. Arnold's community-minded ways should yield a total close to Jimmy Neutron's $80.9 million and Rugrats in Paris' $76.5 million.
Disney's Lilo &amp; Stitch, which should hold up admirably against Hey Arnold! The Movie, barely lost its surprising bid for box office supremacy last weekend against Minority Report. The spunky Elvis Presley fan and her naughty little friend from outer space, however, should have the last laugh.
The Tom Cruise-Steven Spielberg sci-fi epic opened at No. 1, as expected, with $35.7 million. Lilo &amp; Stitch sold more tickets, but many at reduced child rates, to debut with a hip-shaking $35.3 million.
The fight continued into the week, with Lilo &amp; Stitch earning more in its first full week than Minority Report. Lilo &amp; Stitch has $55.5 million through Thursday vs. Minority Report's $51.8 million. Lilo &amp; Stitch will likely best Minority Report this weekend now that die-hard Phillip K. Dick fans have seen Spielberg's version of his short story.
Lilo &amp; Stitch also proves that 2-D animation can still thrill audiences now accustomed to such CGI-executed adventures as Shrek and Ice Age. Lilo &amp; Stitch's opening isn't on a par with Disney's CGI Monsters, Inc. ($62.5 million) or Toy Story 2 ($57.3 million), but it is the best for a Disney 2-D animated offering since Tarzan ($34.2 million).
Lilo &amp; Stitch is ahead of Tarzan, which had $53.5 million in its first seven days in wide release. With competition from Scooby-Doo and Hey Arnold! The Movie, Lilo &amp; Stitch might not equal Tarzan's second weekend haul of $24 million or $171 million total, but it will break Disney's recent drought when it comes to 2-D animated smashes.
Come the end of the July Fourth holiday weekend, Lilo &amp; Stitch should surpass the disappointing grosses of both The Emperor's New Groove ($89.2 million) and Atlantis: The Lost Empire ($84 million). Expect a second weekend of about $22 million and a $140 million total.
Lilo &amp; Stitch also stole off with their share of Scooby Snacks. The live-action version of Scooby-Doo fell by a worrying 54.8 percent in its second weekend, from $54.1 million to $24.5 million. With $111.5 million through Thursday, Scooby-Doo should easily scamper past The Flintstones' $130.5 million total. But the Great Dane will likely take a long nap--until 2004's sequel--at around $150 million and $160 million.
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron went lame as Lilo &amp; Stitch galloped off with its audience. Spirit dropped a disheartening 62 percent in its fifth weekend, from $5.3 million to $1.9 million. DreamWorks' animated adventure, which has $68.3 million, had displayed some signs of staying power prior to facing Lilo &amp; Stitch.
Despite being upstaged by Lilo &amp; Stitch, Minority Report registered a stronger debut than the most recent offerings from either Cruise or Spielberg.
Cruise's much-maligned Vanilla Sky, an ill-conceived remake of Open Your Eyes, opened with $25 million. Its $100.6 million total stands a remarkable testament to Cruise's audience-friendly smile.
A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, conceived by Stanley Kubrick and executed by Spielberg, clocked up $29.3 million in its first weekend. Hindered by a directionless marketing campaign, A.I. faded quickly, earning just $78.6 million to become Spielberg's first summer release not to break $100 million.
Minority Report, which also represents Spielberg's best debut since 1997's The Lost World: Jurassic Park ($72.1 million), should tumble to about $20 million in its second weekend. That should allow Minority Report to surpass A.I.'s total by the start of the July Fourth holiday weekend. Minority Report will doubtless take a hard hit when Men in Black II arrives July 4, leaving Cruise and Spielberg looking at a possible $130 million total.
The prospect of Spielberg directing Cruise stopped many from sampling aging hits Spider-Man and Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones for a second or third time.
Attack of the Clones dropped 45 percent in its sixth weekend, from $9.4 million to $5.2 million. With $282.5 million through Thursday, Attack of the Clones won't even manage to creep past Return of the Jedi's $309.2 million.
Spider-Man eroded 39 percent from $7.5 to $4.5 million. Still, Spider-Man's $392.7 million total through Thursday indicates that the web slinger will swing past $400 million at the end of the July Fourth holiday weekend.
Two CIA operatives--one rogue, the other making career strides--successfully continued to thrill audiences.
The Bourne Identity, with Matt Damon as amnesiac CIA gunman Jason Bourne, dropped an acceptable 44 percent in its second weekend, from $27.1 million to $15 million.
With $61.7 million through Thursday, The Bourne Identity reestablishes Damon's drawing power after the dismal showings of The Legend of Bagger Vance ($30.6 million) and All the Pretty Horses ($15.5 million). The Bourne Identity should top The Talented Mr. Ripley's $81.2 million total and pave the way for The Bourne Supremacy, the second in Robert Ludlum's literary trilogy, assuming all involved resolve their differences resulting from The Bourne Identity's troubled production.
The Sum of All Fears, with Ben Affleck replacing Harrison Ford as CIA analyst Jack Ryan, has $100.5 million through Thursday, making it the fifth 2002 release to break $100 million. That would make it the third of the quartet of Ryan yarns do so. The Sum of All Fears eased by 42 percent in its fourth weekend, from $13.4 million to $7.7 million. Still, Affleck's younger and more vital Ryan needs more stamina if The Sum of All Fears can come close to challenging Clear and Present Danger ($122 million) as the top-grossing film in the franchise.
It wasn't fun and spy games for Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock, as Bad Company plummeted out of the Top 10 in just its third week in release after earning just $2.1 million. The CIA comedy-thriller has $26.4 million through Sunday, continuing the pattern of mediocrity for those films delayed as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Eddie Griffin's Undercover Brother also fell out of the Top 10 after four weeks, after earning $2.1 million, but the low-budget blaxploitation spoof has a respectable $35.4 million total through Sunday.
Griffin lost much of his urban audience to Juwanna Man, a pro-basketball take on Tootsie. The cross-dressing comedy, with banned hoops star Miguel A. Nunez Jr. forced to play basketball in drag, shot an OK $5.4 million opening in just 1,325 theaters. Seems the NBA Draft proved a more exciting prospect than the long-delayed Juwanna Man, which was originally scheduled to debut at the start of the NBA's 2001-02 season.
Juwanna Man's $7.5 million through Thursday probably owes more to the limited drawing power of co-star Vivica A. Fox. Her last two comedies, Two Can Play that Game ($7.7 million opening; $22.2 million) and Kingdom Come ($7.5 million opening; $23.2 million), fared better, but at least Fox should give Juwanna Man enough of a push to hit $15 million.
Suppose gave a war and no one came?
That's the problem facing MGM's Windtalkers, starring Nicolas Cage as a U.S. marine ordered to protect Navajo-American code talker Adam Beach.
John Woo's expensive World War Two epic collapsed in its second weekend, freefalling a disheartening 55 percent from $14.5 to $6.5 percent.
Windtalkers has a mere $29.6 million through Thursday. That's better than the $25.5 million earned by Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Cage's last tour of duty. A $40 million total would position Windtalkers as one of the biggest bombs of the year.
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood exploited its position as the only wide release catering to female audiences by gabbing up $6 million in its third weekend. That was just a 32 percent drop from its second weekend of $8.8 million. Ya-Ya Sisterhood has $51.3 million through Thursday, with $60 million to $70 million a certainty.
Still, with a cast that includes Sandra Bullock and Ashley Judd, Ya-Ya Sisterhood is fading faster than expected after its $16.1 million debut. Either these Southern belles' secrets aren't that thrilling, or women can't resist their invitation to My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
The romantic comedy continues to do great business in just 444 theaters, earning $1.7 million in its 10th weekend. Its $16.3 million total through Sunday makes it the top-grossing limited new release of 2002. Does that mean we can expect a big fat Greek divorce?

In or out of uniform, Mel Gibson seems comfortable in the thick of battle.
Such war-themed epics as Gallipoli, The Year of Living Dangerously, Braveheart and The Patriot either earned Gibson sterling reviews or consolidated his status as one of Hollywood's reigning box office champions.
For his latest tour of duty, Gibson leads 400 baby-faced U.S. troops into Vietnam's so-called Valley of Death for a gory account of the first major clash between American and North Vietnamese forces. As with Black Hawk Down, the fact-based We Were Soldiers focuses on U.S. troops pinned down by the enemy. What differentiates the two is that We Were Soldiers devotes substantial time to the troops' family life--in a terribly clichéd manner, regrettably--while attempting to humanize the enemy.
Chris Klein, Greg Kinnear and a wonderfully laconic Sam Elliott serve under Gibson's command.
Director Randall Wallace also knows the horrors of war. He wrote Braveheart, which earned Gibson an Oscar for his direction, and last year's Pearl Harbor.
Gibson flopped with his previous excursion into Vietnam, but 1990's comedic Air America crash landed with $30.5 million simply because it never the reached the scathingly satirical heights of M*A*S*H.
His recent track record--eight $100 million hits in 10 years--should ensure that We Were Soldiers will overcome a combat-weary audience already subjected in recent months to Black Hawk Down, Behind Enemy Lines, Hart's War and No Man's Land. Given this glut of war films, We Were Soldiers should open and close somewhere between Braveheart ($12.9 million debut; $75.4 million total) and The Patriot ($22.4 million debut; $113.3 million).
We Were Soldiers should not face much of a direct threat from the Oscar-nominated Black Hawk Down and Hart's War. The Somalia-set Black Hawk Down has $102.1 million through Wednesday after six weeks in wide release, marking director Ridley Scott's third consecutive $100 million hit following Gladiator and Hannibal.
The verdict on Bruce Willis' Hart's War is one of disappointment. The gripping courtroom drama, set in a POW camp toward then end of World War Two, has managed to make a mere $16 million through Wednesday since opening Feb. 15.
Just in time for Lent comes 40 Days and 40 Nights, a sex comedy starring another Pearl Harbor veteran, Josh Hartnett. Actually, this is a comedy about abstinence. Distraught after being dumped by his girlfriend, Hartnett decides to refrain from sex for the aforementioned period of time. His vow results in a battle between the sexes, with Hartnett naturally falling love with Shannyn Sossamon before his 40 days are over.
Delayed by Miramax from its original Aug. 24 release, 40 Days and 40 Nights asks Hartnett to carry a film on his shoulders for the first time. He's enjoyed mixed success as an ensemble player. Pearl Harbor, Black Hawk Down and Halloween: H20 were hits, O, Here On Earth, Blow Dry and Town &amp; Country were not.
40 Days and 40 Nights' R rating prohibits Hartnett from enjoying a possible hit on the scale of the tamer but similarly teen-targeted Shallow Hal and Never Been Kissed. With only the declining Super Troopers to compete against, 40 Days and 40 Nights looks set to open with $10 million on the strength of Hartnett's name, then splutter its way to $30 million.
With the deployment of We Were Soldiers, Queen of the Damned will soon be dead and dethroned. The anemic sequel to Interview with the Vampire opened last weekend at No. 1 with an OK $14.7 million, or a little less than one-third of its predecessor's $36.3 million debut in 1994.
Hardcore fans of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles novels, and curiosity seekers intrigued by the presence of the late pop singer Aaliyah, no doubt contributed to Queen of the Damned's surprising victory over Denzel Washington's John Q.
Poor word of mouth--especially in regards to Aaliyah's fleeting appearance and Stuart Townsend's poor substitution for Tom Cruise as the Vampire Lestat--will surely drive a stake through the heart of Queen of the Damned. Expect the typical 50 percent drop in business for a horror yarn with no real shot at box office immortality.
Queen of the Damned has $17.3 million through Wednesday, on its way to a possible $35 million, or one-third of Interview with the Vampire's $105.2 million total. The Vampire Lestat may never rise again, at least not in the thin and pasty form of Stuart Townsend.
Kevin Costner's box office woes continue.
The silly, sickly sweet supernatural love story Dragonfly fooled no one into believing that this is a excursion into the unknown, a la The Sixth Sense or The Others. With its $10.2 opening, Dragonfly also failed to surpass the $11.2 million notched in January by the equally bewildering but somewhat creepier The Mothman Prophecies ($34 million through Sunday).
The good news is that, with $12 million through Wednesday, Dragonfly is not a disaster on the scale of last year's 3,000 Miles to Graceland ($15.7 million). The bad news is that it is unlikely to match the totals of Costner's other recent flops For Love of the Game ($35.1 million) and Thirteen Days ($34.5 million). Perhaps it's time for Costner to consider resurrecting plans for his sequel to The Bodyguard.
Dragonfly also ends director Tom Shadyac's streak of three consecutive $100 million hits, established with The Nutty Professor, Liar Liar and Patch Adams.
Denzel Washington's John Q enjoyed a second weekend haul of $12.4 million, slightly trailing the $13.3 million that his hit Training Day made last fall in its second weekend. The anti-HMO hostage thriller has made $42.1 million through Wednesday, less than the $46.9 million that Training Day had made during the same period. At this pace, John Q should walk away with about $65 million vs. the $76.2 million that Training Day purloined.
Taking hostages in the name of a dying son clearly elicits audience sympathy. Seeking revenge following the murder of a wife and child does not. Collateral Damage looks set to become Arnold Schwarzenegger's second consecutive flop following 2000's The 6th Day ($34.5 million). Schwarzenegger's bid to hunt down a Colombian terrorist has resulted in a puny $35.4 million through Tuesday. After dropping 54 percent in its third weekend, from $8.4 million to $3.8, Collateral Damage will likely plummet from the Top 10 this weekend.
Baby, who wants to do it one more time? Britney Spears learned that last weekend when her road trip came to crashing halt. Crossroads dropped 52 percent in its second weekend, from $14.5 million to $7 million, and tumbled out of the Top 10 as the week advanced. Most of Spears' pre-teen fans clearly stormed theaters during the President's Day holiday to see Crossroads, and those that did not may have been barred from doing so last weekend by their parents. Unlike Mandy Moore's chaste A Walk to Remember, Crossroads fleetingly tackles such issues as rape and teen pregnancy.
Crossroads, which has $26.4 million through Monday, is unlikely to match the $38.1 million that A Walk to Remember has through Sunday.
With families not willing to take in Crossroads, Return to Never Land, Big Fat Liar and Snow Dogs continue to do business.
The Peter Pan sequel Return to Never Land enjoyed a second weekend decline of only 24 percent, from $11.8 million to $8.9 million. With $28.4 million through Wednesday, Return to Never land won't need Tinkerbell's help to reach a total of $50 million.
Big Fat Liar fibbed its way to $33.4 million on Monday. Frankie Muniz's attempts to put Hollywood producer Paul Giamatti in his place eased by an acceptable 27 percent in its third weekend, from $8.7 million to $6.3 million. The comedy should secure a total of $45 million.
Snow Dogs slowed 35 percent in its sixth weekend, from $5.1 million to $3.3 million. Cuba Gooding Jr.'s Alaskan adventure has $72.6 million through Sunday, with $80 million expected by the time he crosses the finish line.
Super Troopers arrested $3.9 million in its second weekend, down 37 percent from its $6.2 million debut. The zany law enforcement comedy has $13.3 million through Wednesday, and will likely surpass martial arts spoof Kung Pow: Enter the Fist's $15 million current tally this weekend.
The Oscar race continues to be profitable for the major contenders.
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring ($284.1 million through Wednesday), Gosford Park ($28.4 million through Sunday) and In the Bedroom ($26.1 million through Sunday) continue to benefit from their Best Picture nominations.
Another Best Picture nominee, A Beautiful Mind, has $133.8 million through Wednesday. It remains to be seen whether star Russell Crowe's British Academy for Film and Television Arts awards post-show shenanigans will hurt his chances for a second Best Actor Oscar and, consequently, the John Forbes Nash Jr. biography's future fortunes.